New chamber executive director excited to connect businesses, build partnerships

TILTON — There have been some big changes at the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce, including hiring a new executive director with plenty of knowledge about the area and its business community.

Grace McNamara, former director of Lakes Region Public Access, took the reins, effective July 1. About a month into the role, McNamara has been getting settled, and is often out and about, meeting with businesses, setting up ribbon cuttings, and organizing networking events.

“It is definitely in the early stages, but the most important thing is we are trying to be out in the community, connect with businesses, build partnerships, and support members any way we can,” McNamara said.

McNamara worked as LRPA station manager for the past 11 years, and her background is in outreach communication and nonprofit public relations. She has worked across New England, with a chunk of time in education communication at schools like Tilton School and Franklin Pierce University.

She also director of communications and alumni relations at Boston College’s Lynch School if Education, and co-director of the integrated marketing communication graduate program at Emerson College, in Boston. Her duties at Emerson included teaching communications courses, as well.

McNamara is no stranger to the Lakes Region Chamber, as she's served on the board since 2017. She said when outgoing director Karmen Gifford decided she was going to transition out of the role, she met with the executive search committee, and applied for the job.

“I had a long relationship with the chamber prior to that.”

McNamara has “so much love” for Lakes Region Public Access, but said it was time to make a change. She knew she wanted to stay in the community, and this felt like a perfect opportunity.

As executive director, she is in a part-time role, with a focus on being out in the community. She is in charge of day-to-day operations, member outreach, managing systems and running events. Much of her time will be spent on workforce initiatives, as well as helping chamber members work through issues, like attracting and retaining employees.

“All things that have to do with businesses of the Lakes Region,” McNamara said. “It is really everything that is related to supporting our members in everything they have to do.”

Gifford is staying on with the chamber for a while as a consultant. McNamara said Gifford has been a wealth of knowledge, and a great asset to work closely with in the early stage of her leadership.

The chamber also has a new location, moving from downtown Laconia, to West Main Street, in Tilton, at Riverfront Place. McNamara said the building houses small businesses, as well, and the space is very efficient. She said most of her time is spent outside of the confines of the office suite.

“My role is now going out to the membership within the community.”

While she officially took over as executive director this month, McNamara started “very part-time” in April. Ribbon cuttings, like the recent Fidium Fiber celebration at Laconia City Hall, are an example of her work, and she's also organized educational panel discussions, including one she facilitated in April for best practices for businesses to find employees. She also runs board meetings, has worked with committees, and worked with the ambassador group and human resources group.

“It has been a busy first several months, but it has been great.”

Upcoming events include a women’s leadership luncheon on Oct. 22, at Mill Falls Marketplace in Meredith. This is the third annual event, and a way for women in the local business community to get together, and learn from other business leaders.

“It’s all about supporting women in business at all different levels,” McNamara said.

Another event is a health and wellness expo at Lakes Region Community College, in Laconia, on Nov. 7, focused on health, financial stability, and work-life balance.

“That is to promote wellness across the spectrum.”

One of the biggest challenges she's found when talking to other chamber leaders around the state is the Lakes Region covers a large area. The region includes the two cities of Laconia and Franklin, and a massive group of surrounding towns. The challenges she sees are different than those in metropolitan areas in Southern New Hampshire, as it is not necessarily a walkable area.

“Needs can be different,” McNamara said. “We try to be responsible to everyone as much as we can possibly be.”

One trend that is always true, no matter the location, is business leaders seem to really want to connect more in person. She said there was a time period after the COVID-19 pandemic, when people worked more from home. Now, people seem to want more opportunities to meet face to face, network, and exchange ideas. It shows people want to work together, collaboratively.

“Chambers are considered connectors and conveners, bringing people and ideas together,” McNamara said. “It is perfect when people want to do that — reach out and meet — because that is exactly what we are looking to do.”

When consumers are planning trips to the Lakes Region, she said they often call the chamber and ask about members. McNamara asks why they reached out to the chamber, and overwhelmingly, people say if a business is a member, they tend to be more trustworthy. She also said people are happy that when they call the chamber, they can talk to a real, live person.

“That also shows that people are really looking for connections at all levels.”

McNamara said people are coming to the area, looking to get the most out of their time in the Lakes Region. She enjoys guiding them, as well as the businesses in the community. McNamara said she has learned so much, while honing skills she has formed throughout her career.

“Meeting new people and businesses has been tremendous,” McNamara said. “It’s exciting.”